01 Oct Canadian Chapter of Mats

On September 21-22, 2015, Canadian OFM’s from the Province of St. Joseph (Eastern Canada), the Province of Christ the King (Western Canada), the Ontario Foundation of the Immaculate Conception Province (Toronto), the Croatian Franciscan Custody of the Holy Family(Chicago), and the Lithuanian Franciscan Friars of Toronto, gathered with their Minister General Michael Perry, OFM, and General Definitor Caoimhín Ó Laoide, OFM, to celebrate their varied, but very much inter-connected, histories as well as their common evangelical zeal. The bilingual (French and English) and interprovincial Chapter of Mats with the theme of “Sharing Our Stories/Partager nos histories” helped, first and foremost, to build fraternal relations, but also propelledthe Canadian Friars on their journey toward the restructuring and renewal of their life and mission to the land claimed by Champlain and to the Canadian people.

A healthy contingent of younger and elder friars returned home renewed by the event held at St. Francis Centre in Caledon, Ontario. The next step will be to discern the future together.